Recent Publications

Veteran Disability Compensation and the Army Profession: Good Intentions Gone Awry
February 2, 2021 — Authors: Dr. Leonard Wong, Dr. Stephen J. Gerras Previous studies analyzing disability compensation have decried its $76 billion annual budget or warned of its perverse ability to incentivize veterans not to work. This study focuses on the impact of this moral hazard on the US Army profession. If soldiers continue to capitalize on an extremely... MORE

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Parameters VOL. 46 NO. 3 Autumn 2016
September 30, 2016 — Editor: Dr Antulio J Echevarria II Special Commentary: Rebalancing Offshore BalancingMichael G. RoskinAdapting to Strategic ChangeBrian McAllister Linn, J. P. Clark, Charles Hornick, Daniel Burkhart, and Dave ShunkMyths about the Army ProfessionDon M. Snider, C. Anthony PfaffOn Strategic Communications TodayJames P. Farwell and Darby J... MORE

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Lying to Ourselves: Dishonesty in the Army Profession
February 17, 2015 — Authors: Dr Leonard Wong, Dr Stephen J GerrasView the Executive Summary Untruthfulness is surprisingly common in the U.S. military even though members of the profession are loath to admit it. Further, much of the deception and dishonesty that occurs in the profession of arms is actually encouraged and sanctioned by the military institution. The end... MORE

A Soldier’s Morality, Religion, and Our Professional Ethic: Does the Army’s Culture Facilitate Integration, Character Development, and Trust in the Profession?
April 1, 2014 — Authors: COL Alexander P Shine, Dr Don M Snider The authors argue that an urgent leadership issue has arisen which is strongly, but not favorably, influencing our professional culture—a hostility toward religion and its correct expressions within the military. Setting aside the role of Chaplains as a separate issue, the focus here is on the role... MORE

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Closing the Candor Chasm: The Missing Element of Army Professionalism
September 19, 2013 — Author: COL Paul Paolozzi View the Executive SummaryCandor stands as the keystone element in creating the foundation of trust in the Army, yet the topic is muted. Stewards of the Army Profession build trust through authentic communication—in education, training, and modeled in application. Candor was previously included in Army Doctrine, yet nearly... MORE

Op-Ed: Downsizing the Army Profession
May 8, 2013 — Dr. Leonard Wong John Carpenter, film director of horror movies such as Halloween, was once asked what he thought it was that scared theater audiences the most. His answer was simple: “Uncertainty.” Carpenter understood that not knowing what will happen next often produces more anxiety and angst than actual traumatic events. As anyone who has sat... MORE

Finding “The Right Way”: Toward an Army Institutional Ethic
September 1, 2012 — Author: LTC Clark C Barrett The ethical lapses exemplified by Abu Ghraib, Mahmudiyah (Blackhearts), and Maywand (5/2 Stryker) are distressing symptoms of an even bigger, and a potentially devastating cultural shortcoming. The U.S. Army profession lacks an institutional ethical framework and a means of peer-to-peer self-governance. The frameworks... MORE

Profession of Arms Study Trust Review
March 1, 2011 — Author: COL Charles D Allen Since trust is the coin of the realm for an Army in a democratic society, it is important that as the Profession of Arms study proceeds that it includes a broad exploration of just what exactly the Army as profession means by the concept of trust.Read Now MORE

The Army’s Ethic Suffers under its Retired Generals
January 1, 2009 — Author: Dr Don M Snider Each month a member of the SSI faculty writes an editorial for our monthly newsletter. This is the Op-Ed for the January 2009 newsletter.Read Now MORE

Intrepidity . . . And Character Development within the Army Profession
January 1, 2008 — Author: Dr Don M Snider How many Army soldiers, particularly Leaders, who just read the title of this opinion piece, knew the meaning of the first word; how many brought to their reading an accurate understanding of the term? More importantly, how many Army Leaders could place a true meaning of the word into the context of the Army as a unique... MORE

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Army Professional Expertise and Jurisdictions
October 1, 2003 — Author: COL Richard A Lacquement Jr The author provides a framework intended for use by the Army's strategic leaders. But, it also should be a point of departure for debate among all members of the profession. The most important purpose of this framework is to provide a mechanism for HOW TO THINK about Army expert knowledge and jurisdictions. He... MORE